Nomad Watch

Essentials

Power
120V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A/B sockets
City
Spokane, Washington, United States
Population
Approximately 230,000 (Metro area 600,000)
Internet Speed
95-150 Mbps; Fiber available via Quantum Fiber
Currency & Banking
US Dollar (USD). Major banks: Chase, Bank of America, Washington Trust Bank
Tap Water
Drinkable, sourced from the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer
SIM Card
T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T. Prepaid plans from $35/month at Target or Best Buy
Banking for Expats
Chase, Wells Fargo, or digital banks like Revolut and Wise
Accommodation
Airbnb, Furnished Finder, and local property managers like Kiemle Hagood
Cashless Friendly
Yes, cards and mobile pay (Apple/Google) accepted almost everywhere
Short Term Rentals
Airbnb and VRBO. Avg. $120/night for central apartments
Budget Accommodation
The Historic Davenport (off-peak $160) or Ruby River Hotel ($110)
Best Area to Stay for Tourists
Downtown near Riverfront Park
Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
South Hill (Manito Park area) or Browne's Addition

Nature and Outdoor Activities

Nearby Nature Escapes
Riverside State Park (15 mins from downtown)
National Parks Nearby
Glacier National Park (4.5 hours); Mount Rainier National Park (4.5 hours)
Cycling/Walking Paths
Centennial Trail (37 miles of paved path to Idaho border)
Scenic Viewpoints
Cliff Park (Marycliff Overlook) for city skyline views
Birdwatching Locations
Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge (Cheney, WA - 25 mins away)
Bonfire-Friendly Spots
Designated pits at Liberty Lake Regional Park (Permit required)

Other Services and Amenities

Parcel Delivery Service
UPS Store (N Division St), FedEx Office, USPS Main Post Office (Riverside Ave)
Tech Repair Services
Gadget Fix (W Main St) for phones/laptops
Table Tennis Spots
Spokane Table Tennis Club (N Howard St)
Language Classes
Spokane Falls Community College (ESL and foreign language courses)
Libraries & Study Spots
Spokane Central Library (recently renovated with podcast studios)
Community Centers
Southside Senior & Community Center
Gaming Lounges
Geeks n' Glory (11612 E Sprague); Retro arcade and drinks
Casino & Gaming Halls
Northern Quest Resort & Casino (Airway Heights)

Business

Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
Approx. $4,200/m²; e.g., 45m² = $189,000
Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
Approx. $2,800/m²; e.g., 45m² = $126,000
1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
Approx. $3,800/m²; e.g., 65m² = $247,000
1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
Approx. $2,500/m²; e.g., 65m² = $162,500
2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
Approx. $3,500/m²; e.g., 90m² = $315,000
2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
Approx. $2,200/m²; e.g., 90m² = $198,000
Corporate Tax
No state corporate income tax in WA; Business & Occupation (B&O) tax on gross receipts (varies 0.471% - 1.5%)
Dividend Withholding Tax
0% at state level (No state income tax in Washington)
Tax System
No State Income Tax; Federal income tax applies
Highest Income Tax Bracket
37% (Federal level)
VAT
9.0% (Combined State and Local Sales Tax)
Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
Yes, applicable at the Federal US level (GILTI/Subpart F)
Property Tax
Yes, approx. 1.1% of assessed value annually
Property Transaction Tax
Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) paid by seller (~1.1% to 3.0%)
Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
0% State Income Tax makes it highly attractive for high-earning US residents

Working and Networking

Best Coworking Space
Fellow Coworking (304 W Pacific Ave); Day pass $25, Monthly $225
Best Cafe for Work
Indaba Coffee (1425 W Broadway Ave) - great Wi-Fi and ample seating
Networking Events
Greater Spokane Inc. (GSI) business mixers and 'Spokane Tech' Meetup groups
Social Events for Expats
Spokane International Translation and Culture events; local adult sports leagues via Spokane Parks

Transportation

Best Taxi/Ride App
Uber and Lyft (widely available 24/7)
Bike/Scooter Rental
Lime electric bikes and scooters (Seasonal: March - November)
Best Beach Nearby
Boulder Beach on the Spokane River or Coeur d’Alene City Park Beach (35 mins away)
Top Regional Airline
Alaska Airlines (Hub: GEG - Spokane International)
Top International Airline
Delta or United (connecting via Seattle, Salt Lake City, or Denver)
Highway Access
Interstate 90 (East-West) and US-2/US-395 (North-South)
Main Train/Transit Hub
Spokane Intermodal Center (Amtrak Empire Builder and Greyhound)
Public Transport Passes
STA (Spokane Transit Authority) - $2.00 single ride, $60 monthly 'Connect' pass
Regional Travel
FlixBus or Amtrak to Seattle; 35-minute drive to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

Health and Wellness

Best Hospital
Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center (101 W 8th Ave)
Yoga & Wellness Centers
The Yoga Classroom (811 W 2nd Ave); Drop-in $20
Gyms & Fitness Centers
MUV Fitness (Multiple locations); Monthly approx. $40-$60
Laundry Services
The Laundry (731 N Monroe St); Wash and fold approx. $1.50/lb

Food and Drink

Best Food Delivery App
DoorDash, UberEats, and Treehouse Deliveries (local)
Best Local Dish to Try
Huckleberry everything (pie, jam, or ice cream)
Vegan/Vegetarian Options
Boots Bakery & Lounge (24 W Main Ave); Casual vegan fare
Best Dessert Spots
Mary Lou's Milk Bottle (Garland District) - famous milkshakes
Affordable Shopping Spots
WinCo Foods for bulk groceries; My Fresh Basket for organics
E-commerce/Online Store
Amazon (Major distribution center locally means fast delivery)
Grocery Delivery
Instacart and Walmart+ Delivery
Bar/Nightlife Area
Davenport District (Post St) and the West End Beer District
Local Brewery
No-Li Brewhouse (1003 E Trent Ave)
Wine Bars
Nectar Wine and Beer (120 N Stevens St)
Street Food Stalls
Food Truck Fridays at Wall Street (Seasonal); Mixed plates $12-$15
Popular International Cuisine
Queen of Sheba (Ethiopian) in the Flour Mill

Culture and Attractions

Must-See Landmarks
Riverfront Park and the Spokane Falls Gondola ($12)
Museums & Art Venues
Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture (MAC) - $12 admission
Historical Sites
Campbell House (Classic 1898 mansion in Browne's Addition)
Religious Sites
St. John's Cathedral (Gothic architecture on South Hill)
Annual Events
Bloomsday Run (May) and Hoopfest (World's largest 3-on-3 basketball, June)
Cultural Districts
Garland Historical District (Vintage shops and indie cinema)
Theater Venues
First Interstate Center for the Arts and Bing Crosby Theater
Local Markets
Kendall Yard Night Market (Wednesdays, summer/early autumn)
Music Scene
Knitting Factory (919 W Sprague Ave) for touring bands
Street Art
Murals under the rail overpasses and throughout the Monroe St corridor
Cooking Classes
The Kitchen Engine (621 W Mallon Ave)
Art Galleries
Saranac Art Projects (Main Ave)
Historic Buildings
The Davenport Hotel Lobby (re-opened 2002, built 1914)
Local Heritage
Native American history focus at the MAC, honoring the Spokane Tribe

Continue exploring Spokane